The Imiokpe community in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, has accused BUA Cement Plc of deliberate manipulation, exploitation, and continued illegal mining operations without accountability or transparency.

In a petition and demand notice addressed to relevant authorities, the community alleged that BUA Cement is attempting to impose a “One-Centre” Community Development Agreement (CDA) across Okpella — a move they say violates Section 116(1) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, which mandates companies to sign CDAs directly with their actual host communities.

“Ownership of land rests squarely on kindreds in Okpella, who by law are recognized as host communities. It is our client, as host community, that BUA Cement Plc is mandated to execute a CDA with — not the entire Okpella clan or any so-called central group,” the petition stated.

Under Nigerian mining law, a Community Development Agreement (CDA) defines the obligations of mining companies to their host communities in areas such as social investment, infrastructure, and local employment. These agreements are intended to ensure that communities directly impacted by mining activities receive fair and lawful benefits.

The Imiokpe community further alleged that despite the expiration of the previous “aberrated” CDA in November 2024, BUA Cement has continued to extract limestone, laterite, clay, and iron ore from the Ikpe-Obia and Oke-Igholi mining sites without a valid agreement in place.

They described the ongoing operations as “daylight exploitation,” accusing the company of paying inadequate royalties while deliberately excluding community representatives from employment opportunities, decision-making processes, and infrastructure benefits.

“BUA’s pattern is to delay, exploit, and profit without fulfilling its legal and moral obligations to its host communities. This aberration will no longer be tolerated,” the kindred declared.

In a final demand notice, the Imiokpe community issued a seven-day ultimatum to BUA Cement to cease attempts to impose a centralized CDA and instead conclude a lawful agreement directly with the legitimate host community.

They warned that continued defiance or attempts to manipulate community representation would trigger an immediate legal response.

“We are prepared to defend our rights through every lawful means available,” the statement read. “If BUA Cement fails to comply with the Minerals and Mining Act by executing a proper CDA with its rightful host communities, we will proceed without hesitation to a court of competent jurisdiction to halt all illegal operations, revoke its mining licence, and demand full restitution for years of exploitation and neglect.”

The community concluded with a stern warning that no corporate influence or political alliance would shield BUA Cement from the consequences of lawlessness.

“The era of intimidation and exploitation is over. Either BUA obeys the law or faces the full weight of justice,” the kindred declared.

Gunmen have reportedly abducted several residents across multiple communities in Kajuru and Kauru local government areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State, following coordinated attacks late Thursday.

According to reports by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the armed assailants stormed Agwallan Centre, Janwuriya, and Afogo villages in Kajuru LGA, targeting residents returning from their farms. An unspecified number of people were abducted in the process.

Zagazola reported that the attackers were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and moved through the villages firing sporadically to disperse locals.

Hours later, another group of gunmen allegedly invaded Kallah and Aokpeshura villages in the same local government, where more residents — including women and children — were taken away.

In Kallah village, residents identified as Simon Audi (29), Beuty Audu (23), and Holliness Simon, a six-month-old baby, were among those abducted.

Community sources told Zagazola that Enoch Simon (40) was later rescued, while Anthony Saidu (32) and Jenecy Obasanjo (20) sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital in Kujama for treatment.

A repentant bandit identified as Babban Gayya was said to have orchestrated the attacks in retaliation for the killing of some of his men by military operatives.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Kauru LGA, gunmen invaded Kuyan Bana village, moving from house to house and abducting an unconfirmed number of residents.

The assault reportedly occurred around the same time as the Kajuru attacks. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived shooting indiscriminately, sending villagers into panic before proceeding with the abductions.

Security sources said troops were later deployed to the affected areas, cordoning off the surrounding forests and launching a search-and-rescue operation to track down the attackers and free the captives.

When contacted, Mansir Hassan, spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, did not respond to TheCable’s inquiry for comments as of press time.

There was mild drama at the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja on Friday as police operatives re-arrested Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and human rights activist, shortly after he was granted bail.

Sowore, alongside several others including Aloy Ejimakor — a disengaged counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) — had earlier secured bail from the court following their arrest during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest held in Abuja on Thursday.

Other defendants granted bail were Emmanuel Kanu, Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.

The magistrate, Abubakar Umar Sai’id, ordered that each of the defendants produce two sureties and a bond of ₦500,000, in addition to verified national identification numbers (NIN), three-year tax clearance certificates, and international passports.

However, shortly after the ruling, chaos broke out within the court premises as a detachment of police officers reportedly swooped on Sowore, manhandled him, and whisked him away in a waiting van.

According to his counsel, Tope Temokun, the officers, led by CSP Iliyasu of the State Command CID’s Anti-Vice Section, “descended violently” on the activist in what he described as an “abduction carried out in broad daylight.”

“After the court freely and honorably granted bail to Omoyele Sowore on liberal terms, the police invaded the court premises in a display of raw impunity and disdain for the rule of law,” Temokun said.

He added that in the scuffle, he and several others were assaulted, sustaining injuries in the process. “Let it be known that Sowore was not taken to prison,” he stressed, alleging that the police had no legal justification for taking his client to an undisclosed location.

As of the time of filing this report, police authorities have yet to release an official statement on the development.